The Freshman Page #2

from Kansas.

Vermont.

"My heart is filled with much

happiness in meeting you," he says.

God Almighty.

You notice the resemblance, right?

He's the real thing. The original.

When they saw him,

they based the movie...

So is he a Mafia guy?

No, local businessman. Importer.

That's it.

- What a kisser.

- Unbelievable.

This is my uncle, Carmine Sabatini.

Uncle Carmine, this is Clark.

You never told me your last name.

- Kellogg.

- Just like the cereal.

Like the breakfast cereal.

Your resemblance to...

- Clark, have a seat.

- Pull up a chair.

- Would you like a nut?

- No, thank you.

None for me, Uncle Carmine.

Did you ever try Italian coffee?

No.

- Would you like to try a little taste?

- Yeah. Why not?

- Good.

- None for me, Uncle Carmine.

"Two espressos," he says.

That picture on the wall

wouldn't by any chance be Mussolini?

It ain't Tony Bennett.

Some older members of the club...

...they keep it up there for sentiment.

- Sentiment.

- The old days.

For the old days.

For good or for bad.

It would be like, for you,

a picture of the Beatles.

They're actually before my time.

Whatever. You understand.

You don't keep the picture up

for political reasons.

No. It's not political.

It's definitely not political.

My nephew says you're from Kansas.

Vermont.

Six of one, half-dozen of the other.

The most important thing

is that we're all Americans.

Right.

Good, Lorenzo. Thank you.

- "Thank you," he says.

- I know.

Now this is real Italian coffee.

It's not like regular coffee.

Know what I mean?

It's a little strong,

so we put a little sugar in.

It cuts the strength.

Maybe a little more.

All right. Drink it down. One gulp.

Puts hair on your chest.

Did my nephew explain this job to you?

No, not really.

It's best if you explain it,

Uncle Carmine.

It's not complicated work, but it

must be done right, like all things.

Tomorrow at 1 pm, outside the club,

will be parked a car.

What is it called?

Sedan De Ville.

- Sedan De Ville.

- That's a type of Cadillac.

A Cadillac.

Yeah, this is a type of Cadillac.

Now, I want you to drive this car

to the JFK cargo terminal.

There you will pick up a package

addressed to Larry London.

Deliver this package to Cherry Hill,

New Jersey. That's it.

Is that far?

Not more than 3 hours, the whole trip.

Depends on traffic.

You never know.

You could get there in no time...

...or sit in traffic for hours

with your dick in your hand.

That's why I need someone

who can use his head...

...who won't get upset, emotional or

nervous no matter what happens.

Right. I understand that.

For this service,

I'm going to pay you $500.

$500?

See why my sister's so pissed?

I mean, angry, beside herself.

You'll pull in at least a grand a week.

A thousand dollars a week?

I'm going to need two trips a week,

minimum.

Of course, if things get busy,

then maybe more.

I hadn't thought of that much money.

I don't know.

- You don't know what?

- Wait. Hold on.

Let him think.

This is a sign of intelligence.

He's trying to understand

the nature of this job.

So, what are your thoughts, Kent?

Clark.

Sorry. Clark.

I have to ask you something.

Don't take it wrong.

No, anything, go ahead.

I smell a rat.

A rat?

He smells a rat.

That's right.

Know why you smell a rat?

Because God gave you a brain.

Because you're asking yourself,

"Clark, what is this?

A man will pay me $500 a trip

to deliver a package?"

- This is what you think?

- Right. That's what I'm feeling.

This is natural. Natural.

So then you understand.

Sure.

I understand a thousand percent.

Give me your hand.

You know what this is?

This handshake?

We call this the hand of friendship.

We?

You don't know what this is.

The hand of friendship from my Uncle.

I want you to take this opportunity.

Totally legitimate work

for $1000 a week.

I know you won't disappoint me.

How can I say no?

This is not a yes.

I want to hear a yes.

Yes.

Good.

Good. Now I'm happy. I'm so happy.

I don't know why I'm so happy.

That's good.

Everybody up.

Come to my house in Queens tonight.

He's going to...

You can get the keys.

I'll give you directions.

I have such good feelings about you.

I'm absolutely filled with emotion.

I never had a son.

In 15 years, I never saw him

take to anybody like that.

Never.

Senator.

We're both part of the same hypocrisy.

Never think it applies to my family.

All right. All right.

Some people have to play little games.

You play yours.

Let's just say you'll pay me because

it's in your interest to pay me.

I want your answer and the money

by tomorrow.

And one more thing.

Don't you contact me again, ever.

From now on, you deal with Turnbull.

Senator, you can have my answer now.

My offer is this. Nothing.

Not even the fee for the gaming

license...

... which I would appreciate if you

would put up personally.

"Senator, my offer is this:

Nothing."

In that one moment, Michael Corleone

says that all corruption is equal.

That there is no separation between

politics and gangsterism.

As discussed in the Fleeber treatise,

Guns and Provolone...

...what are the similarities between

Karl Marx's "Das Kapital..."

...lmmanuel Kant's

Critique of Pure Reason...

...and the Lake Tahoe scene from

"Godfather II"?

You haven't read the Fleeber piece?

Well, in an evolving society...

You need help from Mr. Bushak?

He might enjoy helping you write

a five-page answer to my question.

I want it on my desk by noon tomorrow.

In an evolving society...

...violence and narcissism replace...

- Oh, shut up!

I hate this guy.

You're Clark?

Yes, I'm Clark.

I'm Tina, Carmine Sabatini's

only daughter.

- I didn't know he had a daughter, only.

- He does. I'm her.

Come in.

This is quite a house. Very European.

Can I get you a drink?

Beer? Sprite?

No, thanks.

Jesus, look at that.

Wow, what a job they did!

Job?

Copying job.

Down to the cracks and everything.

This isn't a copy. This is it.

Right.

I'm very serious.

This has to be a copy.

Do you remember about 10 years ago

the original toured the country?

It did?

They brought it over from the Louvre.

Who?

I don't know who. They.

It was in the United States.

And...?

And it stayed here.

The one they shipped back to Paris,

the one behind all the glass...

...that the tourists take pictures of

is the copy.

My dad thought it was just awful.

A masterpiece behind such thick glass.

He had such a special feeling for it

his whole life.

Sort of an obsession.

He ripped it off? The "Mona Lisa"?

The day it arrived here I was 9.

My dad took it out of this huge crate.

There was Styrofoam

and newspaper everywhere.

And suddenly...

...there it was.

And he turned to me...

...l'll never forget this...

...and he said:

"Now I'm happy.

Now I got the "Mona Lisa."

It's safe here in Queens?

People don't steal from my father.

- They don't?

- No.

- You want to dance?

- Here?

- It's kind of hot.

- Take your sweater off.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes